Esperanza Trabajando

Funded by the Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (CFBCI) through the U.S. Department of Labor, Esperanza Trabajando (Hope Works) is a project that engages faith- and community-based organizations in the delivery of workforce development services for at-risk and adjudicated Latino youth. Since the project was launched, young people have been redirected from unemployment to employment, and to the realization of program participants that transformation and success is possible. It has been amazingly rewarding to witness such transformations.

As part of this project, Esperanza has developed a helpful resource guide that offers recommendations and suggested approaches for the development of new or enhanced workforce development programs by faith- and community-based organizations. Guide to Starting a Workforce Development Program  gives an introduction to key concepts and essential components for new entrants to the workforce development field engaged in designing, implementing, and enhancing programs. To download the PDF version of the guide, please CLICK HERE.

Esperanza also has developed a handy resource for job seekers to help them in the process of preparing for a job interview. Practicing for Job Interviews – A Comprehensive Preparation Strategy provides exemplary interview practices to help the job seekers meet the interviewer’s needs. This guide is available in PDF format as well as in printed form. To download the PDF version of the guide, please CLICK HERE. For the printed version, please CLICK HERE.

In February 2005, Esperanza Trabajando began granting funds to select faith- and community-based organizations with the goal of enrolling 2,500 adjudicated and at-risk Latino youth by the end of the partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor.

The organizations that have participated in this effort include

Miami, FL
• SER-Jobs for Progress
• Trinity Church
• Home of the Nazarene

Orlando, FL
• The Job Partnership of Florida

Tampa, FL
• Iglesia De Dios Pentecostal –Church Avenue
• Iglesia De Dios Pentecostal –Hillsborough
• Iglesia De Dios Pentecostal –La Senda Antigua

Chicago, IL
• Instituto del Progreso Latino
• La Casa Norte

New York City, NY
• Exodus Transitional Community, Inc.
• Urban Youth Alliance

Bethlehem, PA
• Bethlehem Christian Training Center

Santa Ana, CA
• Taller San José
• Templo Calvario

Sacramento, CA
• Asian Resources

Tacoma, WA
• Centro Latino

Boston, MA
• ROCA
• Centro del Cardenal

Tucson, AZ
• New Life Ministries International